Don't be dumb in the first half, don't be a wimp in the second
When all the race reports say it was muddy, the race officials are saying it's going to be muddy, and the forecast is calling for rain...why do we still hold out hope that the course might stay dry for us? "Bighorn Mud" was a frequent proper-noun I saw leading up to my 6th hundred mile... Continue Reading →
Sitting down to write this, I'm half-expecting Clippy to popup. "I see you're writing a race report 3 months after it happened. Need a hand?" "Probably", I would say. So why return to the blog with an oldish race when I've got a fresh, shiny WS 2020 lottery qualifier right in the rearview mirror? Because... Continue Reading →
I tried to write this blog post back in October, my race report for my first DNF at the Bear 100. I didn't finish it. I didn't really want to. One and Half Runners was supposed to be a place for self-reflection. It exists for Colleen and me to catalog our running experiences: good or... Continue Reading →
I have a confession to make. A lot of the time, at least recently, I don't love running. I have not been "loving the process". I haven't been thrilled with my races. Most training runs feel like a slog. While a bit demoralizing, I think it's to be expected to be honest. In 2016 and... Continue Reading →
Ultra runners are fueled by testing their limits. Nothing about the sport is easy or even sane, but the pursuit of pushing our bodies to their absolute limits drives us forward. As we attempt new races, run different trails, and ramp up our training, our limits stretch further and further. We get new benchmarks to... Continue Reading →
B and Q. Two letters that I really never thought I would put next to a race result. But after Sunday, my 3:01:21 marathon PR is a certified, authentic BQ. It wasn't the sub-3 that I was hoping for, and pretty far off from the 2:55 I was dreaming of, but it should be good... Continue Reading →
I know I already wrote a year in review and set some goals, but my friend over at yogawordnerd put together an awesome race schedule post that got me thinking about my schedule and what I am looking to get out of 2017. As I enter my third year of ultra running, my focus is quickly shifting from... Continue Reading →
2016 was my year when it comes to racing. Sure, it was a pretty wacky year otherwise. But for my running, it couldn't have gone any better. With a few days left, I wanted to take a step back, reflect on my accomplishments, and set my sights on 2017. Taking a quick look back at... Continue Reading →
It was tough. It was way tougher than the Vermont 100, which I already thought was pretty hard. It was tougher than any race I've done, regardless of cramping, nutrition issues, or overheating. 27 sleep deprived hours in the rain over 101 miles with 23,200 feet of elevation change forced me to dig incredibly deep... Continue Reading →
With the fanfare and elation of Vermont 100 starting to wear off, I am doing my best to mentally shift from my summer goal race to what is coming up this fall. Without a doubt, Grindstone will be much more of a challenge, climbing and descending 23,000+ feet over its 101 miles. For reference, that... Continue Reading →
One and a Half Runners 